Wilson, Shouse named to All-Southwest Conference first team

Thursday, November 11, 2004
Nevada senior Ben Wilson made the All-Southwest Conference first team for both offense and defense, one of only four players to do so.

By Joe Warren

Nevada Daily Mail

The All-Southwest Conference teams were announced this week, and two Nevada Tigers were on the first team.

Seniors Ben Wilson and Tyler Shouse were the players selected by the conference coaches to be on the first team, Wilson making it on both offense and defense and Shouse qualifying on the defensive side.

Wilson was named to the first team offense as a tight end. He caught 16 passes for 267 yards and four touchdowns this season, leading the team in touchdown receptions.

Wilson also supplied the Nevada offense with a blocking presence from the tight end spot.

"(Wilson) was a very solid blocker for us on the edge," Nevada coach John Skeans said. "He did a good job when he got the ball in the passing game."

Wilson scored three of his four touchdowns in the season-opening win over Lamar, and had his other against Webb City in Week 4, the first score they had given up all season.

On the defensive side Wilson was honored for his play as a defensive end. Wilson registered 48 tackles from the defensive line and had numerous quarterback hurries and pressures.

Skeans thought Wilson was deserving of the honor on defense as well.

"He led by example," Skeans said. "He was a very physical player on both sides of the ball."

Wilson was one of only four players in the conference to make the first team on both sides of the football. Webb City's Andrew Stanley and Marty Rodgers and Carthage's K.C. Hagensieker were the others.

Shouse was honored for his play at linebacker for the Tigers. The senior's 139 tackles led the conference. He averaged almost 14 tackles a game.

"(Shouse) is also one that led by example," Skeans said. "He was one of our key players on our defense. He was very mentally tough and was always around the football."

Since Wilson counts as two selections, the Tigers had three total first-team picks.

Webb City and Carthage each had 11 first-team selections, to lead the conference. Neosho had seven and McDonald County had two.

There were 34 total selections made.

The other first-team selections were:

Offensive linemen Johnnie Jacks, Webb City; Eric Bearden, Webb City; D.J. Midcap, Webb City; Frank Hebert, Neosho; Fabian Fernandez, McDonald County; Sean Weber, Carthage.

Tight ends Wilson, Nevada; Jared Schweitzer, Webb City; Trevor Lewis, Neosho.

Receivers Kelsey Ray, Neosho; Jonathan Terry, Carthage; Caleb Sanders, Carthage; Hagensieker, Carthage.

Running backs Stanley, Webb City; Rodgers, Webb City; Bud Ellis, Carthage.

Quarterbacks Brayden Drake, Webb City; Owen Johns, Carthage.

Defensive linemen Jake Dumond, Neosho; Bryce Goff, McDonald County; Wilson, Nevada; Bryce Allen, Webb City; Kyle Molina, Carthage.

Linebackers Shouse, Nevada; Chris Endicott, Webb City; Stanley, Webb City; Whyet DeMoss, Neosho; Zach Staples, Carthage.

Secondary Blake Womack, Carthage; Hagensieker, Carthage; Rodgers, Webb City; Phil Main, Neosho.

Punter Zach Stuart, Neosho.

Kicker Greg Arnold, Carthage.

Webb City swept the player of the year awards, with Stanley taking the Offensive Player of the Year honor for his work as a running back, and Rodgers taking Defensive Player of the Year as a cornerback.

Stanley had 1,240 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns in only nine games for Webb City during the regular season.

The second team also was filled with Webb City and Carthage players.

Webb City had nine players on the second team and Carthage had eight. Neosho and McDonald County each had six players on the second team and Nevada had three.

Nevada's second-team selections were senior offensive lineman Travis Trautman, junior running back Heath Baker and junior punter Kyle Quick.

Nevada also had eight players named to the Honorable Mention list.

Senior Brad Robison was named to the list as a defensive lineman, senior safety Eric Atkinson, junior quarterback Justin Reed, junior running back Keith Overton, junior offensive lineman Derik Scotten and junior linebacker Opie Tipton also were honorable mention.

Quick -- called Super Toe by the coaches -- was named honorable mention as a kicker.

Also making the Honorable Mention list was freshman quarterback Ronnie Herda. Herda was the only freshman to be recognized by the conference.

In other Nevada football news, the Tigers held their annual banquet Tuesday at the high school.

Wilson was named Offensive Most Valuable Player and Shouse was the Defensive MVP.

Trautman was named the Best Offensive Lineman, and Robison won the Best Defensive Lineman award.

The Best Offensive Back award was given to Baker, while Overton won the award for Best Defensive Back.

The Most Improved Player was given to sophomore running back Gary Smith.

The "Mr. Hustle" award was given to junior Brad Gash.

The Top Newcomer award was split between Ronnie Herda and Ryan Herda. Ronnie for his play at quarterback and safety, and Ryan for his play at fullback and defensive lineman.

There were two coach's awards given out, one for Dedication and one for Determination.

The Dedication award went to sophomore Anthony Biggs. The Determination award was given to Tipton.

Also honored at the banquet were the Academic Award winners. Wilson split the award with freshman Dan Levinger. The award is given to the player with the highest GPA, and they both have a 3.95 GPA.

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